Memory repair method and apparatus based on error code tracking
AssigneeRambus Inc.
InventorsFrederick A. Ware, Ely Tsern
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A memory module is disclosed that includes a substrate, a memory device that outputs read data, and a buffer. The buffer has a primary interface for transferring the read data to a memory controller and a secondary interface coupled to the memory device to receive the read data. The buffer includes error logic to identify an error in the received read data and to identify a storage cell location in the memory device associated with the error. Repair logic maps a replacement storage element as a substitute storage element for the storage cell location associated with the error.
Claims20
A memory module comprising:
- a substrate;
- a memory device disposed on the substrate, the memory device to output read data;
- and
- a buffer having a primary interface for transferring the read data to a memory controller and a secondary interface coupled to the memory device, the secondary interface to receive the read data, the buffer including
- error logic to identify an error in the received read data and to identify a storage cell location in the memory device associated with the error, and
- repair logic to map a replacement storage element as a substitute storage element for the storage cell location associated with the error.
A method of operation in a memory module, the method comprising:
- accessing a read data word in a group of storage cells in response to a read operation request from a memory controller;
- transferring the read data word from the group of storage cells along a secondary data bus;
- buffering the transferred data, the buffering including
- determining whether an error exists in the read data word,
- repairing a failure associated with the error, and
- storing information regarding the repairing for a subsequent read operation;
- and
- transferring the read data word to a memory controller along a primary data bus.
A method of operation in a memory module, the method comprising:
- receiving data from a memory controller along primary data paths;
- buffering the received data, the buffering including
- comparing addresses associated with the data to stored address information associated with known failures;
- if the comparing identifies a correlation between the data addresses and the stored address information, extracting a data bit corresponding to the correlation and storing the data bit in a substitute storage location;
- and
- transferring the data for storage in a memory device along secondary data paths.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.